Mold with thermally conductive flanges
A mold for forming a flange of a wind turbine blade comprising a first flange portion including a plurality of lamina and having a generally planar shape and a second perpendicular flange including a plurality of lamina. A plurality of copper wires are disposed within the lamina for conducting heat delivered from a base portion through the first and second flange portions. The mold is free of fluid conduits with the flange portions moveable relative to the base portion.
1. A mold for forming a flange of a wind turbine blade having a leading edge and a trailing edge comprising:
a removable flange, the removable flange having:
a first laterally extending flange portion, the first laterally extending flange portion including a plurality of laminae;
a second vertically extending flange portion including a plurality of laminae, the second vertically extending flange portion connected to the first laterally extending flange portion;
a thermal conductor disposed within at least a portion of the second vertically extending flange portion;
a base portion disposed below the removable flange, the base portion having a heating element disposed therein, the second vertically extending flange portion disposed at a leading edge of the base portion;
and wherein the thermal conductor is configured to transfer heat through the first laterally extending flange portion and the second vertically extending flange portion.
2. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the second vertically extending flange portion is disposed perpendicularly to the first laterally extending flange portion.
3. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the first laterally extending flange portion and the second vertically extending flange portion are integrally connected.
4. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the first laterally extending flange portion and the second vertically extending flange portion and the base portion are free of fluid conduits.
5. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the thermal conductor is disposed within at least a portion of the first laterally extending flange portion.
6. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the thermal conductor has a coefficient of thermal conductivity greater than the laminae material.
7. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the thermal conductor includes at least one metal foil.
8. The mold of claim 7 , wherein the thermal conductor includes a plurality of uniformly spaced copper wires.
9. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the thermal conductor extends along the entire length of the second vertically extending flange portion.
10. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the heating element includes at least one copper wire.
11. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is disposed within a distance of approximately three inches from the surface of the base portion which engages the blade.
12. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the thermal conductor is disposed within a distance of approximately 10 millimeters from the vertical surface of the second vertically extending flange portion.
13. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the base portion is moveable relative to at least one of the first laterally extending flange portion and the second vertically extending flange portion.
14. The mold of claim 1 , wherein the first laterally extending flange portion or the second vertically extending flange portion are moveable relative to the base portion.
15. The mold of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of thermal conductors are interwoven between the lamina laminae of the first laterally extending flange portion and the second vertically extending flange portion.